Happy Nation

Happy Nation
Studio album by Ace of Base
Released
  • 16 November 1992 (Denmark)
  • 19 February 1993 (Germany)
  • 7 June 1993 (UK)
Recorded 1992
Length 49:21
Label Mega
Mushroom, Festival, Warner Bros. (original version)
Arista (The Sign version)
Producer
Ace of Base chronology
Happy Nation
(1992)		 The Sign
(1993)The Sign1993
Alternative cover
U.S. version (re-release)
Singles from Happy Nation
  1. "Wheel of Fortune"
    Released: 1992
  2. "All That She Wants"
    Released: 1992
  3. "Happy Nation"
    Released: 1992
  4. "Waiting for Magic"
    Released: 1993
  5. "The Sign"
    Released: 1993
  6. "Don't Turn Around"
    Released: 1994
  7. "Living in Danger"
    Released: 1994

Happy Nation is the debut studio album by Swedish pop group Ace of Base. It was initially released in Denmark on 16 November 1992 by Mega Records. During development of the record, the group was heavily influenced by a Jamaican reggae band residing in a nearby studio.[1] In 1995, Guinness Book of World Records named the LP the best-selling debut studio effort in music history, at more than 19 million copies sold worldwide.[2] By 2007, Happy Nation/The Sign had sold approximately 23 million units including 9 million in the US alone.[3]

Background

"Everything was being driven by grunge or techno, then suddenly these people arrived and did something which was completely different and happy and simple. I just think they write brilliant pop tunes and it hit a nerve at the time. (...) I think they've developed their own style. If you listen to the radio and you hear a record, you immediately recognise that it's Ace of Base."

—Managing director of Metronome Records, Albert Slendebroek talking to Music & Media about the album.[4]

Happy Nation was released in 1992 in Scandinavia and early 1993 in the rest of Europe, Africa, and Latin America on Festival Records. It reached the number one position in at least 14 countries, and has sold over 23 million copies worldwide.[5]

A second release in Europe, Happy Nation (U.S. Version), came on September 25, 1993, to coincide with the album's release in North America under the title The Sign. The Sign was released in North America on November 23, 1993. Despite its title, Happy Nation (U.S. Version) was never released in the United States. Both versions have revised track listings.

These releases include new tracks, including "The Sign", and "Hear Me Calling", "Living in Danger", and the Tina Turner cover "Don't Turn Around", along with alternate versions of other tracks. Certain songs included on the original Happy Nation were removed altogether. The re-release climbed to number one in the UK Albums Chart, beating the number 21 peak of the original release.

The Sign is listed among the Top 100 Best-selling Albums of All Time by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[6] Several songs on the album became Number One singles in the United States, Europe, and North Africa, including "The Sign", "All That She Wants" and "Don't Turn Around".

In 2016, Russian label Mirumir released an "Ultimate Edition" on vinyl containing the original track list from the 1992 release, the additional tracks from The Sign/Happy Nation (US Version) releases and the iTunes bonuses from the three releases.

Track listing

Happy Nation – original version (1992)[7]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."Voulez-Vous Danser"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:17
2."All That She Wants"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:30
3."Münchhausen (Just Chaos)"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:27
4."Happy Nation"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:11
5."Waiting for Magic"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
5:17
6."Fashion Party"JokerJoker
  • Joker
  • Johnny Lindén[a]
  • Martin Selwall[b]
4:10
7."Wheel of Fortune"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:52
8."Dancer in a Daydream"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:37
9."My Mind" (mindless mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:09
10."Wheel of Fortune" (original club mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:58
11."Dimension of Depth"N/AJoker
  • Joker
  • Buddha[b]
1:45
12."Young and Proud"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:54
13."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Denniz Pop
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:14
Happy Nation – U.S. version[9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."All That She Wants"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Denniz Pop
3:30
2."Don't Turn Around"
  • Hammond
  • Warren
  • Tommy Ekman
  • Per Adebratt
3:48
3."Young and Proud"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:56
4."The Sign"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
Joker
3:08
5."Living in Danger"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Ekman
  • Adebratt
  • T.O.E.C.[d]
3:41
6."Voulez-Vous Danser"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:17
7."Happy Nation"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:13
8."Hear Me Calling"
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Linn
  • Jenny
  • Buddha
  • Stonestream[a]
  • John Ballard[a]
3:48
9."Waiting for Magic" (total remix 7")
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Buddha
  • Stonestream
3:50
10."Fashion Party"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
Joker4:10
11."Wheel of Fortune"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • T.O.E.C.
3:52
12."Dancer in a Daydream"
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:37
13."My Mind" (mindless mix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
4:08
14."All That She Wants" (Banghra version)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Joker
  • Buddha
  • Denniz Pop
4:14
15."Happy Nation" (Remix)
  • Joker
  • Buddha[c]
  • Joker
  • Buddha
3:45

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies re-editing
  • ^[c] signifies rap lyrics
  • ^[d] signifies pre-production
  • ^[e] signifies a remixer

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Austrian Albums Chart 3
Danish Albums Chart 1
Dutch Albums Chart 2
French Albums Chart 1
German Albums Chart 1
Greek Albums Chart 1
Hungarian Albums Chart[12] 1
Israeli Albums Chart 1
New Zealand RIANZ Albums Chart 1
Norwegian Albums Chart 1
Portuguese Albums Chart 1
Spanish Albums Chart 5
Swiss Albums Chart 2
Swedish Albums Chart 3
UK Albums Chart 1
US Billboard 200[13] 1

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF) 4× Platinum 240,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[14] Platinum 50,000*
China (SARFT) Platinum 30,000
Czech Republic (IFPI) Gold 5,000
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[15] 2× Platinum 197,000^
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[16] Gold 82,715[16]
France (SNEP)[17] Diamond 1,295,500[18]
Germany (BVMI)[19] 3× Platinum 1,500,000^
India (IMI) Platinum 20,000
Indonesia (ASIRI) 4× Platinum 200,000
Ireland (IRMA) Gold 7,500^
Italy (FIMI) Gold 50,000*
Greece (IFPI Greece) Gold 30,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[20] 2× Platinum 200,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ) 3× Platinum 45,000^
Portugal (AFP) Platinum 40,000
Singapore (RIAS) 3× Platinum 45,000
South Korea (RIAK) 7× Platinum 700,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 2× Platinum 200,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[21] Platinum 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[22]
Happy Nation (US version)		 Platinum 50,000^
South Africa and Lesotho (RISA) Gold 25,000
Thailand (TECA) Gold 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] 2× Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA) 9x Platinum 9,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ulf Ekberg (Ace of Base): The Interview". EuroMenTravel. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Tortorici, Frank (2000-05-18). "Ace of Base's Jenny Berggren". MTV. Retrieved 2016-08-31.
  3. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (2007-10-26). "Ace Of Base announce reunion tour". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-12-07.
  4. ↑ Stratton, Sally. "Radio Plays Key Role In New Ace Of Base Album" (PDF). Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Ace of Base". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  6. ↑ RIAA - Gold & Platinum - November 03, 2010 Archived October 18, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1992. MRCD 3206.
  8. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/se/album/happy-nation-remastered/id951696344
  9. ↑ The Sign (booklet). Ace of Base. Mega Records. 1993. MRCD 3239.
  10. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/se/album/happy-nation-u.s.-version/id951700379
  11. ↑ "Cartula Trasera De Ace Of Base". Coveralia.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Archívum › Kereső - előadó/cím szerint". Mahasz. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ace of Base - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
  14. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Ace of Base in the field Interpret. Enter Happy Nation in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen. 
  15. ↑ Heick, Annette (1993-06-13). "Dobbelt platin". BT (in Danish). Copenhagen.
  16. 1 2 "Ace of Base" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  17. ↑ "French album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.
  18. ↑ "Les Albums Diamant :" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  19. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ace Of Base; 'Happy Nation')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  20. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter Happy Nation in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  21. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Ace of Base; 'Happy Nation')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  22. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Ace of Base; 'Happy Nation (U.S. version)')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  23. ↑ "British album certifications – Ace of Base – Happy Nation". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Happy Nation in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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